Soap tray



Jan. 26, 1960 L. KOCSI 2,922,248

SOAP TRAY Filed Dec. 2, 1958 Louis Kocsi INVENTOR.

BY WM United States Patent SOAP TRAY Louis Kocsi, Garfield, NJ.

Application December 2, 1958, Serial No. 777,641

1 Claim. (Cl. 45-28) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in bathroom accessories, and more specifically to an improved soap tray.

For years there have been in use soap trays which are either directly bolted onto a bathroom wall or which is built into the bathroom wall as a part of the tile thereof. Each of these trays are provided with a bottom having very slight ribs extending upwardly therefrom. These ribs are intended to support the cake of soap above any water which may rest in the tray. However, the ribs fail to accomplish this purpose. As a result, the soap became soft and is unfit for use, or when used large quantities which are undesired are removed therefrom.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide an improved soap tray which includes a tray having projecting from the bottom thereof a plurality of ribs, the ribs being relatively deep and there being supported on the ribs a sponge, the sponge in turn supporting the cake of soap whereby the removal of moisture from the cake of soap after its use is assured by means of the sponge.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved soap tray assembly which includes a generally rectangular tray having a front wall, a rear wall, a bottom Wall and side walls, the bottom wall extending up above the other walls of the tray and thus forming a protective shield for the wall of the bathroom in the vicinity of the soap tray assembly.

Another object of this invention is to provide a soap tray assembly which is so mounted on a bathroom wall whereby it may be easily removed and replaced to facilitate the cleaning thereof and at the same time is so constructed whereby marring of the bathroom wall is prevented.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved soap tray assembly, the soap tray assembly including a tray having seated therein a sponge, the sponge serving as a support for a cake of soap, the sponge being so constructed whereby it absorbs the excess moisture from the cake of soap, as well as that portion of the cake of soap which is normally lost by rubbing onto the usual soap tray, the sponge forming an emergency soap pad when the cake of soap has become depleted.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the soap tray assembly which is the subject of this invention and shows the general outline thereof;

Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the soap tray assembly of Figure 1 and shows the general details of the means for supporting the soap tray assembly on a wall;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken through I the soap tray assembly and a wall on which the soap tray assembly is mounted;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through the soap tray at right angles to the sectional view of Figure 3 and shows the details of the bottom wall construction; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a retaining socket mounted on a wall for receiving the soap tray assembly.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there is illustrated the soap tray assembly which is the subject of this invention, the soap tray assembly being referred to in general by the reference numeral 16. The soap tray assembly 10 is primarily formed of a tray which is referred to in general by the reference numeral 12. The tray 12 includes a bottom wall 14, an upstanding front wall '16, a rear wall 18' and side walls 20 and 22. The side walls 20 and 22 are substantially identical.

Referring first to the bottom wall 14, as viewed in Figure 4, it will be seen that formed integral with the bottom wall 14 is a plurality of upwardly projecting ribs 24 which extend between the front wall 16 and the rear wall 18. The ribs 24 are relatively high so as to provide a suitable space for the collection of water therebetween, the space being referred to by the reference numeral 26.

Considering next the rear wall 18, it will be seen that it extends upwardly well above the remainder of the tray 12 and functions partially to form a shield for a wall on which the soap tray assembly 10 is mounted. The rear wall 18' is preferably of an ornamental configuration so as to be pleasing to the eye and includes a rearwardly directed flange 28 disposed along the upper edge thereof. Also, there are disposed rearwardly projecting vertical flanges 30 at the upper corners of the rear wall 18. Extending rearwardly from the rear portion of the rear wall 18 and at the lower corners thereof are flanges 32 which are also vertically disposed and form extensions of the side walls 20 and 22. The purpose of the flanges 28, 30 and 32 is to space the rear wall 18 from a bathroom wall, such as the bathroom wall 34 illustrated in Figure 3.

Struck from the lower part of the rear wall 18 is a depending tab 36. The tab 36 is offset rearwardly of the rear wall 18 and is in parallel relation thereto. The tab 36 is connected to the rear wall 18 by means of a connecting portion 38 which is generally horizontally disposed.

Associated with the tab 36 is a socket forming member 40 which is generally channel shaped in cross-section and which is secured on the bathroom wall 34 by means of suitable fasteners 42. The socket forming member 42, together with the bathroom wall 34 forms a vertically disposed socket 44 which releasably engages the tab 36 to secure the soap tray assembly 10 in place on the bathroom wall 34.

In the use of the soap tray assembly 10, a sponge 46 is provided. The sponge 46 preferably has a plan outline which corresponds to the outline of the bottom wall 14. The sponge 46 is seated in the tray 12 and projects above the walls 20, 22 and 16 thereof. To facilitate the removal of the sponge 46, the upper edge of the front wall 16 is provided with a centrally located finger receiving recess 48.

Seated on the sponge 46 is a cake of soap 50. When the cake of soap 50 has been used and is replaced on the sponge 46, the sponge 46 absorbs the moisture carried by the cake of soap 50 so that it soon regains its original firmness. At the same time, the cake of soap 46 absorbs the soft soap particles which are normally lost in the usual soap tray. Thus evenwhen the cake a of soap 50 has been depleted, the sponge 46 will have retained therein soap which is sufficient for use in an emergency.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that there has been devised a very pleasing appearing soap tray assembly, which soap tray assembly is so constructed whereby it may be removably mounted on a bathroom wall in such a manner that scarring of the wall is prevented and at the same time is so constructed whereby it supports a cake of soap in such a manner that the cake of soap is retained in a dry state at all times. When a soft cellulose sponge is used, it is advisable to dampen the sponge before it is set into the soap tray to expand it to its full shape.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur 'to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and 0 equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A soap tray assembly comprising a tray having a bottom wall, a front Wall, a rear wall and side walls, said bottom wall having a plurality of spaced upstanding ribs, a soap cake supporting sponge-like member seated within said tray on said ribs, said ribs being disposed below said tray walls, and supporting means secured to said rear wall, said supporting means being in the form of a depending tab strucloout from and disposed rearwardly of said rear wall and being adapted to engage in a socket, said rear wall projecting above the remainder of said tray and being of an ornamented shape, spacing elements projecting rearwardly from said rear wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,709,144 Mueller Apr. 16, 1929 1,794,700 McCaskey Mar. 3, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS 17,058 Australia Nov. 27, 1928 

